An extreme stealth ban on loli material extending to “clothing or voices reminiscent of a person under the age of 18” has been proposed as an amendment to Tokyo’s regional laws, with clear nationwide implications.

A summary of the relevant passages from the proposed amendment:

Any literature or film which might be thought to constitute a depiction of sexual activity involving or apparently involving a person under 18, someone dressed in a manner reminiscent of an under-18, or who speaks like an under-18, may not in Tokyo be viewed by or sold or distributed to any young person.

2. Items which through age, clothing, accessories, school year, setting, other people’s ages, or voice, seems reminiscent of a person who might be recognised as an under-18 (hereafter called a “a fictional minor”) engaged in, or appearing to be engaged in, sexual activity or activity resembling sexual activity, or which impede the development of healthy sexual faculties in youths, or which might be feared to obstruct the healthy development of youths.

This is indeed as vague, subjective and sweeping as it appears. A similar clause bans “anything resembling rape.”

Although phrased as a ban on sales and distribution to under-18s, the ramifications would be far more severe – anything which might fall foul of the incredibly vague and ambiguous definition of “unhealthy material” given above would likely have to either be censored completely or take an “adult mark” and be treated as age-restricted adult material throughout the Tokyo area.

Tokyo is of course where most anime, manga and games are made and sold – any such restrictions would undoubtedly cause a drastic reduction in sales and consequently production, with nationwide implications.

The ban would also extend to Internet distribution, though whether just to Tokyo minors or also by Tokyo companies to minors elsewhere is not clear. Presumably television would also be within the remit of the ban as well.

The reform bill also proposes to “make possession of child pornography by Tokyo residents illegal,” apparently vaguely defined to include the above sort of material, which opponents are increasingly attempting to brand “virtual child pornography.” However, no criminal sanction is proposed or legally possible, so this particular amendment would appear to be entirely toothless.

Other proposed changes to Tokyo law include attempts to force Internet censorship of “unhealthy” sites for minors (such filtering is already semi-compulsory) by a variety of measures, such as by stripping parents of the right to unfilter their children’s Internet and mobile phone access.

It is not clear what chance the proposal has of being accepted as law at this stage, or whether it could survive concerted legal challenge; protests by publishing industry and union groups have so far been ignored. Those pushing the laws have previously called otaku opponents “mentally ill” and so seem unlikely to heed criticism.

Frustrated at the national level by constitutional protections and political ambivalence, opponents of free expression and sexuality, in large part extremist Christian and feminist groups, have been working to ban material they object to by the backdoor – a ban of such sweeping magnitude would cripple the publishing and Internet industries of Tokyo, as well as crush freedom of expression in Tokyo, and by extension all of Japan.

with the low birth rates in Japan, they should encourage young people to fuck more, not to turn them into asexual robots. Even more, the younger they start fuckig i.e: 16yo, the better. Cause the older they get, the more aware they will be about the stupidity of becoming fathers.

Most loli manga/anime are already sold sealed with "adult marks" on. And the other stuff about clothing and voices is just absurd and would impinge on the rights of adults. So, I can't see how this could pass a constitutional test. These moral maniacs are making themselves increasingly unpopular in Japan. So with any luck, it will get trashed ....

I'm very anti CP, well, I'm technically anti adult porn. lol. But it's legal and none of my business. (see that retarded governments of the world? It's not your business.) I especially hate the idea of children being hurt, corrupted, etc etc. But good grief this is ANIME and COMICS! It's not fucking real!

Whats wrong with people? Seriously? How bout they just bad CP. Y'know, sex trafficking, kidnapping and raping children - oh wait. That IS illegal. As is MOST violent crime.

To some of the arguments about going underground: yes, people still will. And live in fear. Never knowing if some government goon is gonna show up at your door to arrest you years later, or a friend is gonna go tattle because you didnt like the loli on your PC showing off her pantsu.

Yes, yes, yes. Creepy men. Blah blah blah. Men have always been creepy. Want to know how to handle it? Some dude sticks his finger in your kids butt JUST SHOOT THE FUCKER. Someone checks out your kids butt? Whap him upside the head and theaten to shoot him with a smile XD

Damn feminists. Do women want to be men THAT BADLY? I understand the movement way back when - men were loosers and the women needed to be able to take care of themselves. But good GOD did they go overboard. Maybe so many dudes wouldnt like little girls if the ADULT females were still willing to BE girls. And maybe women would like men if they grew up and acted like men? Doubtfull on that last part. Boys dont like girls (aka shemales) and girls dont like boys. Women dont want husbands, or equals or w/e. They want pets.

Unless you punch the bitch in the head and cheat on her and do drugs and go to jail and have no job. Then she'll stay with you forever... But I digress!

Feminists and FALSE christians are destroying the world. You cant decide for everyone on the planet whats good and bad by pointing a gun at their heads. History shows that repeatedly. Make laws. And do your best to keep the country moving, and punish dumb assess accordingly.

I could rant on this crap forever... Somethings are just common sense to be wrong. Trying to micro manage each breath, thought and movement of the citizens in your countries is IMPOSSIBLE and a waste of time. All it does is HELP criminals and hinders the good guys. The Yakuza could just take up the anime business, doubt they mind the extra cash.

It's like Obamma's (or however the hell our presidents name is spelled. Dont really care) retarded gun laws / views. The people out there commiting crimes and all these murders with guns arnt buying the fucking things legally to begin with. Someone wants to go kill a fellow gang banger aint filling out his background check forms - he's buying it in an ally.

As is, there are still SOME rules companies have to follow to publish their loli stuff. If it goes illegal does the ruling whatever of japan REAAAAALLY think whomever takes up the industry in the shadows is going to even attempt to adhere to not pissing off the public? AKA "where get a 22 year old to do the voice acting for the loli rape seen! Lets get a 8 year old and record her screaming while we really rape her!"

...... Morons. Real criminals dont abide by the laws to begin with. They think they are protecting kids? They are painting fucking targets on their backs!

however as long as this could be a show off only bill it should be relatively safe well another thing is that as long as there is no legal sanction then so it could be a pointless bill thats only there for show

I mean c'mon... COMIKET is the biggest publication convention in the world! I think the people running COMIKET should start handing out PETETIONS to stop Restriction of the Sale of Unhealthy Literature bill.

Well, I rememnber Artefact wrote a very right thing about it. Otaku fandom are too useless people to defend their own rights, or to fight for something they want.

As a matter of fact I thing they settled for things that other peoples don't care about. So being part of something where you don't have to struggle or argue with people that could hunt you and break your face is very appealing for a nice and defendless otaku.

And I think that's why a bunch of stupid bitches and Milfs spend their times destroyng this people, they are just the easiest prey. Otaku don't defend their self or their hobbies, (collecting cards, dressing dolls, watch cartoons, fantasize about having sex with females of their same mental age). So in a world where the stronger eats the weaker, is very understandable that certain groups use them to rise their ranks in the politic's ground.

"On the surface, an artist tries to frame his ideals in an image, to challenge his audience and make his vision immortal. But the parasites say "NO! Your art must serve the cause! Your ideals endanger the people!""
―Artist Display

I have been reading this kind of topics and i thinks that the only way we have to fix their brains is to appeal to count for insulting us by calling us rapists and staff. They wont care for words but if we strike their money they may just get it.
No point in speaking with fanatics.

The great era of loli pedophilia is seeing its dusk! Not that I really had an attachment to it. We are better off with keeping it out of our entertainment altogether. Loli is only animation or just simple artwork, but the way the mind processes things proves its potentially dangerous consequences. The first bit of "loli" I ever seen was Petite Cosette, and that was horror loli/goth anime. I for one would prefer mature depictions of characters participating in sexual activity and feel that anyone obsessed with children included in these acts should seek help, though they might just be apprehended by authorities ASAP.

So I bit farewell to loli and will continue enjoying more "normal" avenues of entertainment.

Holy shit, so many comments. Didn't think so many cared. So, does this mean no Lucky Star or Hayate? If you ask me, you shouldn't ban lolicon. It'll turn potential pedophiles into real pedophiles. With loli gone, potential pedophiles/lolicon lovers will more likely end up raping little girls. Of course, they probably never would've ended up like potential pedophiles if it weren't for lolicon. LMAO w/e guess they should ban it. Just make sure that they watch the little ones...